#kiss army rocks
Crafts aren’t just for Grandma…I made another KISS Shirt, tipping the hat this time to the Mike Douglas Show, 1974.
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The Paul Stanley KISS Bust by Illusive Originals Numbered 178 of 15,000. This was during the era when KISS took over Spencer’s, and visiting a Spencer’s store in 1996 was like entering Willy Wonka’s factory. It’s crazy that was over 20 years ago.
The simple joy of shopping malls, music stores, KISS Merchandise, and leaving the house without a phone.
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My post from yesterday got the imagination rolling, and the desire to pen to paper. In the same vein of THE SEASONS OF KISS post, I might soon start sprinkling in…
THE ITSALLFORYOUDEMON BAR GUIDE
(Nightcaps for the Kings of the Night Time World)
Avoiding obvious choices like, “Cold Gin”, and being more of a beer boy myself, this should be interesting, challenging, and fun. Most of all fun…
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Since it’s Friday, why not create a KISS related nightcap?
I present to you, “Thrills In The Night”
1 oz. Triple Sec
Blood Orange Soda
Dash of Grenadine
Dash of Peach Syrup
Now there’s your million dollar idea…THE KISS KOCKTAILS RECIPE BOOK.
Have a good weekend everyone…
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Happy March 1st everyone. We are one day closer to Spring, and one day closer to “Shandi” weather.
Enjoy…
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I have always been a Marketer’s dream. If you package something right, or place it in the right setting, I want it. From E.T. and Reese’s Pieces, to Barbasol Shaving Cream Cans with the Jurassic Park logo on it. I’m sold. The same goes for rock stars. When I heard rumor that Eddie Van Halen boiled his guitar strings? There I was, a day later, ruining sets upon sets of Ernie Balls. The Motley Crue logo came from a bottle of Löwenbräu Beer? Better pick up a six pack. Backstage photos, like this one, Lynn Goldsmith captured in 1977, have the same effect. I’m a sucker, but it’s all in fun.
Now…if they only still made Michelob with the Gold label and curvy dark bottles….
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Uploaded a new video to my YouTube Channel…Conjuring the good vibes of Spring by celebrating all that is fun with one of the greatest ‘Spring’ releases of the non-makeup years, ASYLUM.
Happy a good week everyone. Spring will be here before we know it…
For another round of NEVER BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT AN ALBUM THE SAME WAY AGAIN…
A few weeks ago, my friend Gery commented that upon seeing the LOVE GUN album for the first time at K-Mart in 1977, the album motif struck him as having a strong Southwestern influence. Peter’s bandolier, Ace’s semi-bandoliered-space suit, the lounging exotic women, the steps, the pillars, the color scheme…it all adds up. Now, I cannot stop NOT-seeing it that way. The LOVE GUN album is my favorite album cover of all time. Adding one more way to view it, only makes it that much better.
Combining it’s beauty with some Southwestern cuisine and a cold Trooper, only adds to the fun…
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My freshman year of high school, there was a video store in town that sold SUPER SAVER CD’s for $9.99. They came in super cheap packaging, clear plastic long boxes, with the compact disc at the bottom, and the CD artwork / booklet on top. My friends and I thought we hit the jackpot, when we noticed that someone at the store had mis-marked the KISS ALIVE’s for $9.99, when most double CD’s were $19.99. Both sets of ALIVE! were purchased before the store became any wiser. I remember falling in love with ALIVE! almost immediately, particularity “She” and “Watching You”. Around the same time I had a $99 JcPenny Harmony electric guitar, that I couldn’t play a lick of, but spent many nights wearing it around my neck, make believing I was in a rock and roll band to the strains of KISS ALIVE! Pretty cool to imagine, what I was doing in 1990, had been done by kids 15 years prior upon it’s release. Dreaming big dreams to the sounds of the greatest ‘live’ rock record ever.
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As the rumors are flying the end of KISS may be around the corner, with the band trademarking the the phrase, “End of the road”, I thought it was time to put pen to paper on my thoughts and feelings, imagining a world without our heroes.
WHAT DO I THINK WILL HAPPEN? I imagine Ace will become a part of the band again, and possibly Peter, resulting in a FULL MAKEUP “End of the road” World Tour featuring the four original members.
MY THOUGHTS? Don’t do it. It’s been done. We’ve seen it. We saw it happen in 1996, and it was magic. Then, we saw it fall apart. We saw it get ugly. And from that final standpoint, (hate to say this), but if the band would reunite like this, it appears simply for one last bankroll.
WHAT DO I WISH WOULD HAPPEN? Ditch the makeup. It’s time. The music of KISS is what we love. Go out, showcasing to the world the MUSIC of KISS. Lastly, bring EVERYONE back. Gene, Paul, Eric, Tommy, Bruce, Ace, Peter, Vinnie. Do a huge non-makeup show celebrating EVERY incarnation, every amazing song, every unexpected B-Side, and blow up every bomb you have left in your arsenal. Give the world KISS. In all it’s magnificent glory.
It should be interesting to see how all this plays out.
Good times ahead….
Over the weekend, my friend Mike mentioned that he loved the DRESSED TO KILL album cover for the cover’s “Gangster” tie-in. I have NEVER in all my life looked at this album cover through that lens. I have always seen the album from the Clark Kent / Superman photo shoot the band did for Cream Magazine. But, his view makes sense, especially tied in with the album title. And now, I will never look at it the same again…and that is awesome. Trading insights with fans and learning something new everyday. It’s fun to be a KISS Fan.
(Although per yesterday’s trademark, the end is nigh?)
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Uploaded a new episode of DEVEREAUX’S LABORATORY. Changing things a bit from the first episode, dropping the Podcast and going for a straight up Vlog. In this episode, Dan, Todd, Mike and myself wax the first three records and try to decide what constitutes CLASSIC KISS.
Enjoy…
THE REASON KISS FANS ARE THE BEST:
A few days ago I posted a blog about a KISS poster I remember seeing when I was 14 years old. It was around this time, I was first diving into KISS, so memories of the poster, bring back that kind of nostalgia that brings a smile to your face. The innocence of youth. The fun of rock & roll. Today, I received a package from a fellow KISS fan @ajzetro1975. The very poster from my youth, from his personal collection. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?
A huge THANK YOU to ajzetro1975. This gesture was beyond cool, and this poster will forever hang in the Laboratory, and my 14 year old self will smile every time I pass it. Thank you.
Lastly…in regards to all KISS FANS (or FANS in general). Let’s face it, the internet these days can be a pretty sour place. But the thing we all share here is pretty amazing. Whether it’s Horror, Retro Toys, Motley Crue or KISS, fans share one common bond. We celebrate the ESCAPE. We celebrate the FUN. There are so many cool and creative people posting good stuff everyday it has made social media fun again, and that is what life should be about…FUN.
I know I sound like a sentimental old man, but we put up with enough garbage during the day at work or at school, no one needs it clogging up their feed. If a photo of your favorite record makes you happy…post it. If doing a vlog review your favorite movie excites you…record it. If you can imagine a cartoon picture of Eric Carr as an Anime-Fox…draw it.
Follow your bliss. Share your fandom. Put your happiness out into the world.
Have a good day everyone.
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Why is it, K-TEL Records are a little more fun when KISS appears on them?
Very K-MART, 1979.
GLORY.
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I have been really digging the HOW THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD documentary on Netflix. Around the time I was 13, I dove headfirst into the Beatles. They were the first band I ever considered “collecting”. That stint of soaking in every ounce of music and every bit of information I could get my hands on, while eyeballing every antique store corner, certainly paved the way to my becoming a KISS fan.
Here are some similar looking album covers, each with the first piece of merchandise I ever added to my collection for both of the greatest bands in music history. (IMHO)
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It’s summer, and that means it’s KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK time. So, I spent the evening documenting everything FUN regarding the 1978 made for Television KISS film, KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK. Enjoy. Or, as the Demon would say, “You’re welcome.”
Are you feeling trapped inside on a gloomy Spring day? Put your time to good use, and make your Mom mad at the same time, recreating KISS ALBUM ART using supplies from your very own kitchen!
It’s never too early to start thinking about your Halloween costume. Large Marge is going with Peter Criss, 1978, by Collegeville Costumes.
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Do you dream of living the life of a rock star? Do you eat your morning cereal with Root Beer? If you answered YES to any of these questions, enjoy my new video, THE FUN OF KISS EXPOSED
The KISS EXPOSED video played a huge part in the teenage lives of my friends and myself. Today I had some fun remembering all the reasons why…
Having some fun discussing some of the many reasons I love the LOVE GUN album so much, and how my friend Dan, taught me to never listen to “Tomorrow And Tonight” quite the same, ever again.
Having some fun talking the 1978 Gene Simmons Belt Buckle and Album from his Solo Album Promotional Tour.
A new birthday buckle. The glory of becoming an old man, is you score the same fun stuff you would have wanted when you were 8.
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I put my own spin on those ‘band lineup’ shirts, by making a new T-shirt, celebrating the man who runs the park, the man who built the park, and the man who maintains order. All bonded together on beautiful, 1978 Corvette Orange.
If these three names make you smile, then we are KISS fans cut from the same cloth.
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I have always wanted a LICK IT UP poster, stumbling upon one with the German logo, only makes it sweeter.
For more nerd-ly insight into why I love this album cover, please see my notes below…
-Much like the first album (KISS), the design is simple. Four individuals, no backdrop, no distraction.
-The LICK IT UP cover almost seems like a slight (Non-Makeup) tip of the hat to the bands 1st album cover. The 1974 self titled release, showed the four members, in makeup with a black background. The LICK IT UP cover, shows the four members, NO makeup, with a white background. Almost a ’re-birth’ if you think about it…
-I love the fact, Vinnie is wearing pink, when all the other members are wearing black. Visually…that’s classic.
-I love the fact, Paul is showcasing his wrist watch. Something you would had never seen in the makeup days. The watch tells us, Paul is human. These are not the masked superheroes of KISS, this is plain and simple, four guys in a rock band.
-Lastly, I always enjoyed the remnants of the past that are present in the photo. Vinnie’s ‘Ankh’ necklace, and Gene’s trademark tongue.
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For the next edition of NIGHTCAPS FOR THE KINGS OF THE NIGHT TIME WORLD, I present to you…THE PARASITE.
½ Ginger Beer
½ Rum
Garnish with Lime
***Now, in creating a mixed drink for the HOTTER THAN HELL album, I wanted to use “Parasite” as the song title, and thought of using something either colored Green or Blue…but then thought, those would be best used for the Solo Albums, months down the road. Thus…I opted for this recipe, which is quite tasty, however the name ‘Parasite’, and this drink having the look of Turd Water, are kind of a turn off. LOL. Total fun regardless.
Happy Easter weekend everyone. April is here. Spring is upon us. Good times ahead…
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Having some fun pitting 1982’s CREATURES OF THE NIGHT against, 1983’s, LICK IT UP, and deciding once and for all, which album, I prefer the most, and why…
Having some fun imagining WHAT IF, KISS had continued to mass merchandise through the CREATURES OF THE NIGHT era? What sort of goodies would have hit the Toy Store Shelves? I take a stab at one, and put your mom to work in the kitchen, with the “I Love It Loud” Devil’s Food Cake Mix, straight from the bands final music video in makeup. Enjoy!
I made a new KISS Shirt for my friend Dan, (who introduced me to KISS). A shirt that stemmed out of one of our daily KISS conversations. We were talking the GENE Solo LP, in particular “Mr. Make Believe”, and I mentioned why I love the song so much. Essentially, per Gene, that song is about “the fantasy figures people have, who they daydream about becoming, who inspires them.”, which basically is US to KISS. From the posters on our wall, to the shirts on our back, to the records on our stereo. KISS is our “Mr. Make Believe”. To which Dan replied, “Exactly…that is why Gene is my Elvis”. Thus, a shirt was born.
Have a good week everyone…
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When I first began collecting the KISS Catalog in the late 80’s, CD Players had just become ‘the thing’, but were far too expensive to own yet. The first one I ever saw, belonged to my buddy’s Dad, and it was something you looked and listened to with your eyes, not your hands. Seems like light years ago. Thus, many of my first additions of the catalog were on cassette tape, LOVE GUN, being one of the first. Playing this little gem takes me back to those days. I remember thinking “Then She Kissed Me” was so weird, but couldn’t deny the fun of that guitar riff. And, “I Stole Your Love” was an immediate all time favorite. So much fun. Here’s to being young again…
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Spent the weekend in the basement, spinning records and hanging things. Lots of cool memories attached to this poster, seeing it hanging in the Record Wear House poster rack, when I was first getting into the band. Never pulled the trigger back then, but she’s finally home. Looks even more deliciously evil under my green lights…
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Just in time for Saturday Night,
Night caps for the Kings of the Night Time World…
THE BLACK DIAMOND
1 ½ Oz Vodka
¾ Oz Kahlua
Cream
**Essentially, it’s a White Russian, but it’s much more fun calling it a “Black Diamond”, while spinning sone 1974 glory on the stereo.
Have a good weekend everyone…
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Guest I would like to see at a KISS Expo…
THE DRESSED TO KILL KID
Even if he couldn’t remember squat, how cool would a photo op / M&G be with someone who witnessed the creation of one of the most iconic album covers ever?
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